Extraordinary -Nancy Werlin

I finished this a few days ago and am just now posting. I know, slacker!

Here is a synopsis from Goodreads.

Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new kid in school, and the two girls become as close as sisters . . . until Mallory's magnetic older brother, Ryland, shows up during their junior year. Ryland has an immediate, exciting hold on Phoebe, but a dangerous hold, for she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself. Soon she'll discover the shocking truth about Ryland and Mallory: that these two are visitors from the faerie realm who have come to collect on an age-old debt. Generations ago, the faerie queen promised Pheobe's ancestor five extraordinary sons in exchange for the sacrifice of one ordinary female heir. But in hundreds of years there hasn't been a single ordinary girl in the family, and now the faeries are dying. Could Phoebe be the first ordinary one? Could she save the faeries, or is she special enough to save herself

I had some very high, or good expectations for this book, and the beginning gave me what I was expecting but other than that, it fell flat for me. There were several things I did like but overall, I was not drawn in.

So, some good things. It plays on Pheobe's self-doubt about herself which is something I think teenagers go through. I liked Pheobe's parents in the story. They were loving, motivated, kind-hearted, and supportive. It's been awhile since I really cared about a set of parents in a book.

The book lacked action. There is an accident that happens but we, as readers, go straight to the hospital room two weeks later. That was about it for the action. Everything moved at a slow pace and everyone was SO accepting to their fates. I don't know if this book has a hero.

I am not one to critique some one's writing, especially if they have been published, because obviously I am not. But the teenage character's in the book are teens. Some of their dialogue was too advanced. Mallory, a fairy had been around for a couple of decades, so OK, she might talk like a 60 year old woman, but Pheobe? She used terms like "beloved" name one teen that uses beloved on a regular basis.

Some quick thoughts:

I wish I had learned more about the fairy world in the book - it seemed limitless

Ryland - who is a major player - super underdeveloped

Ben's a great guy

I think the Queen was a moron for not figuring out how to save her people sooner - and she could have used anyone - I have a feeling she could have.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

I can tell you that I bought this as an eBook for two reasons, one I had seen it and also it was $.99 on B&N. So why not?

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might have been telling the

truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

Anyway, We meet Wendy and I would say she is well balanced. She's not an "in your face" character but she is not "weak-willed." I liked her because she was bratty to her older brother and I felt for her because her "mother" was a monster toward her. Going on, Wendy knows she is different, in the first chapter we find out she can persuade people to do what she wants by making eye contact and repeating what she wants. In comes Finn (one of my favorite names and a name in my manuscript), yes, he's the heartthrob. He's loyal and duty-bound and hott!

Some what of a spoiler (considering it happens in the fourth chapter) Wendy is a troll not the Billy Goat's Gruff troll but a new spin which I havent read yet, so big credit to Hockings for turning the perception on trolls because I def think of them as smelly and gross (anyone remember the Ernest Scared Stupid, the movie? that!) Finn is there to take her "home" to her real mother and start life over. She is also very much in danger from other trolls - Vittera. They want her because as Tove tells us, Wendy is very powerful!

Wendy has a whole world thrust upon her and is trying to be a good trylle (troll) but you get a feeling of raising frustration because she has all these questions, and NO ONE answers them for her. She is expected to be a certain way but no one gives her the why. I felt myself getting frustrated for her and for me because I wanted to know more about the Trylle world.

Some quick thoughts

Finn's my new man... though I dont love him like Patch and Will

Elora is up to something ... I probably should trust her but I don't

Tove ... I think he has a thing for Wendy - maybe betrothed?

Finn and Wendy forever :)

I want to know her other abilities.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Book 3 down! I'm on fire!

Synopsis -

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

The Dark Divine is in the lead for my favorite book of the year :). I think that Grace is a great character. She is a pastor's kid fully intact with her morals, especially forgiveness, which I think is uncommon among heroes in any kind of story. She is by no means a push-over, but is very compassionate.

As for Daniel, if it isn't clear yet, I love a good bad boy, and Daniel has sins! It took at

least half the book for Daniel's secret to come out. I had an idea about what his secret was,but not confirmation from Despain. It def. kept me reading into the night, because I needed to know and I was not disappointed when the secret's background was described.

Another character, that is key in the story, is Jude, Grace's beautiful, even more warm-hearted than she brother. He's really angry and Daniel and they used to be like brothers, which only led to my curiosity as to what Daniel's secret was. But Jude, well I think you need to read the book, there is something off.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly -

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape. Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present. (from Barnes and Noble)

This is book 1 of my 100 book chalenge for 2011... I was drawn in by the cover and then more by the synopsis... It sounded fascinating! I had to have it but sadly it was not as captivating as I thought it should have been.

For the high points, I thought the main character Andi, finding a diary of Alex's was well-crafted and how Andi was drawn into the diary was good. I was more intrigued by Alex's story than I was Andi's. I felt for Alex...she seemed real, and especially because she was flawed. I love a good flaw on a heronie. And Alex's flaw was she could be selfish and an abundance of ambition...things that are very normal.

I did some research on some of the facts that Donnelly put into the story and she did a great job incorporating the facts and also put in a segment about how history is a Rorschach test which I thought was a wonderful point of view of history and reminds us as readers that she may view things differently than we do when looking at history.

Andi and her father have a strained relationship and I thought the character of the father was well-done! Especially when he tries to talk to an angry, rude, teenager and is unsuccessful.

Some downsides, I think Donnelly tried to push the Posh high school and made it sound unrealistic. I felt that Andi was a very contrived character and though her guilt was very real her character's attributes were not. I had a hard time imagining meeting her or meeting her friends. I have students and I felt that I could like her to no one.

It was a great idea and the history was well-incorporated!

Overall 3/5

The Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

This is the final chapter of the Vampire Academies series and I have to tell you that I am so sad that it is over! I found Rose Hathaway to be a captivating character. she was not the weak-willed lead. She was tough, mouthy, and reckless. She did not fail me in this novel either.

Rose is on trial for a murder that she did not commit and like the fourth book, Lissa and Rose spend much of this book apart. But through the shadow-kissed bond, we, as the readers, keep up with what is going on in court, because Rose is not there! She was broken out of her cell by some expected and unexpected friends. And what is even more shocking is the "friend" that helps her in solving who really killed the Queen.

A long the way, she continues to battle her love for the handsome Dimitri and her love for the addict loving Adrian. I could not wait until I got to the end to find out who she ended up with!!!!

However, it is sad that after six books, it's over. I wanted to know what happened to each character after the wrap up. It is one of those series that the characters became "alive" to me and they simply cannot end.

Torment by Lauren Kate

I recently received about 12 new books from Donorschoose.org (LOVE THAT WEBSITE) and got the second book of the Fallen Series by Lauren Kate. IT WAS BETTER THAN THE FIRST! You do have to read the first one to really understand the love between Daniel and Luce, but oh how I loved it.

Daniel and Cam have a truce for 18 days they have joined up against those that want

Luce and basically go around annihilating anyone who is a threat...sick, but romantic and

I am still not positive that Cam isn't in love with her too. They both are hell-bent on protecting her

and Luce seems clueless about the danger that she is in by putting herself in danger often in this novel. It is my issue with the book, I felt that stemming from the first novel's ending, she would have figured out that people were after and would still be...I'm going to chalk it up

to a character flaw

Luce is shipped off to yet another school where she meets Shelby and Miles, two very loyal friends. And though things at school are OK, and she is figurin

g out more about the nephilim world (because the school is for that), she desperately misses Daniel who really shouldn't see her (though he sneaks around and does ...oh romance!). Luce does get restless because she doesn't know what's going on and Daniel stays tight lipped about everything which begins to drive a wedge between the two, and you wonder are hundreds of life times together enough in this one?

This series is a must read!!!

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

School and National Board have been taking over my life but I did sneak in a read last week, Halo by Alexandra Adornetto. This novel includes three angels, Gabriel the warrior, Ivy the healer, and Bethany the teen. The teen? She is just that and part of the reason that the three of them are on earth. They have come down from heaven to help the shift from evil to good. They reside in a little ocean-coast town and while her older "siblings" are in control of themselves, Bethany finds herself behaving like a human teenager and even falling in love with a boy, Xavier Woods. However, evil forces come into play.

This novel was more centered around the love story of Bethany and Xavier then the fight between good and evil. And though I love a good a love story, I felt the ending was too quick... I wanted more from the "evil". I'm trying not to give it away, the ending.

I do think Adornetto did a great job capturing teenagers. She did not presume

much about them but created characters that I have in my classroom. I think my students would and will relate to this story.

I'm also finding a big draw for my students is the cover. And I get why, it's captivating. Nice job on the marketing whoever designed that one!

Clockwork Angel

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all

I finished the novel Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Claire. This novel is a wonderful supernatural world. Likened to the Harry Potter world, the author creates a world that works with the "mundane" world. I fell in love with the character test and her insecurities. She is a wonderful 16 year old girl trying to save her brother who has disappeared and in the process is forced to become part of the supernatural world. She is rescued by several characters and they take her in. You have a wide range of characters, the female trying be the leader in a man's world, a husband who can only see his inventions, a prissy teenage girl who just wants to be married (the story takes place in London during the 1800's), the wild boy Will with hidden secrets and Jem who carries a hidden addiction.

I am part of Team Will... end of story.

The plot was well-developed and I was intrigued from the very beginning!!! Has anyone read this one? I think what I loved the most about the plot were the twists. Clare had me going, "No way!" a few times.

I loved the book and was very upset when I learned the sequel would not be coming out for awhile!!!

I also did some research on this author's other works and what she has done is written a series for the same world except it takes place in modern day. The Clockwork Angel is a prequel series to the Mortal Instrument series. A friend of mine, Nadine, has started this series and really enjoys it! It is a must for classroom shelf and also for the supernatural reader!

It's that time of year... my favorite time of year... it's time for the first few weeks of SCHOOL! Yes, I truly enjoy this time of the year. I love getting all my new school supplies, like I was five years old again. There is something about a new notebook with no pages torn, no scribbles in it. And a new pen! How many wonderfully stressful things will I write!?

I'm refreshed and ready to dive into new units and see the familiar faces of my students in

the halls of Ripley. Though high schoolers can be tough, they have an uncanny ability to make me smile a

nd brighten my day!

I did read a few new books in the last week and wanted to take a minute to post about them. The first was a book called Ruined by Paula Morris. This was a great supernatural story that did not have to do with vampires. I thought it captured the "outsider" well and reminded us about New Orleans and the culture that is found there. The ending, though I won't spoil it, was quick. It "vanishes." I would say it was a 31/2 star book.

Another one was Incareron by Catherine Fisher. It's a new Big Brother theme book. It is very imaginative and so well planned the world that Fisher developed. It is most impressive. It does drag at the

end but I needed to know how it ended. The main heroine of the story is bossy, determined, and intelligent. You can't help but want her to succeed against the forces that are trying to control her. And the hero! His identity is predictable but he has a soft, caring heart and you want him to assume his rightful identity.

The last one I am going to mention is my favorite! Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick . This book involves a

new favorite supernatural topic f mine, angels. And Patch, the main character's love interest, oh, he's perfect! Yes, I secretly love him. Fitzpatrick weaves a great story, involves several great twists and left angry that I would have to wait for the sequel! It was very captivating! I mean, LOOK AT THAT COVER! One down side, the main character's best friend is too predictable and very expected. I will say it was the best summer read for me this year. 41/2 star